30 May 2007
WHO WAS THAT FAT-NECKED, BALDING, SMUG TWAT IN THE 1980s?
And so to the 1980s. As I waited for my cab home having filmed my contributions to the '70s episode, the production team were generous about my efforts. "Have you done this before?". "Sort of".
Janine's in touch by email. Can I do next week? I can only do Thursday. The week passes. The following Monday I'm told it looks like it'll be Thursday 3 May. Wednesday, and a venue is fixed. A huge house in Highgate. "If you could arrive at the location by 5pm that would be great as we have to be out of there by 6.30pm. It is someone's home and they hire it out to film crews now and then."
I arrive at 5.10pm. This place is seriously imposing. Tiled floors, enormous ceilings and wall-to-wall sideboards. With sealed packets of chocolate mints on them. "You've come up in the world since your modest West London flat in the 1970s!" jokes Sophie, the director.
I sit down, and she begins to talk. As the filming lights come on, she gradually fades in the blur. Janine's guarding the door to the room, which swings open of its own accord. I feel for her, as she's dispatched to tell the home-owners to stop walking around their own house.
And then we get into it.
We start with Postman Pat, a show I've little interest in. I say a bit, the director then says, "Thank you." I say another bit. "Thank you. Now I just want you to say ..." and she tells me what to say. Phew, the cynical '80s, eh? The '70s weren't quite like this.
But we warm up, and while always rather stilted, we get into something that feels a bit more like a conversation. "I want you to say that American shows had a negative impact on British children's programmes in the 1980s". "Well, I don't really think they did," I reply, taking a stand mere minutes after disgracefully parroting back some guff she's fed to me about a Pigeon Street episode I'd never seen (they open a vegetarian café, apparently). But, here, I'm salving some small sense of dignity. I'm not just going to say anything. Although I do then concede that perhaps buying in episodes of He-Man dissuaded British broadcasters from commissioning their own fare. I'm guessing that bit won't make the cut, but my musings on Pigeon Street's eatery probably will.
Things are getting sticky, though. There's a helicopter buzzing overhead, the family's dog is barking, and worst of all, they've got the temerity to use their own creaking back door. "Surely there must be another way round they can use?" says the director. "Janine, can you ask them?". "Well," says Janine, "it's after 6.30pm already. That's probably their guests arriving. I don't think I can". I agree, but I don't say anything. Who am I in this? "In fact," says our slightly bristling researcher, "you really need to push through these".
"Make your answers shorter," I'm told. And then we get into talking about Grange Hill. I retread my Gripper comments from the '70s shoot. We talk about Press Gang and I attempt - from memory - to quote Paul Cornell's praise for it in the Guinness book. "Thank you". Then, with everyone getting itchy, we talk about kids appearing as themselves on telly. I say some stuff the director really seems to like, and she wants me to expand. Meanwhile, I can feel the whole room is now of a-twitch.
Then it's over. It's 6.55pm. My cab's been waiting since 6.25pm and now he's threatening to go. Janine gets me to sign the release forms, and then - Jim Bowen-style - counts out cold, hard cash into my hand, before we race to catch the cab. But the front door's locked and we can't get out.
That's how I ended up ruining your show again, everyone. Sorry.
Janine's in touch by email. Can I do next week? I can only do Thursday. The week passes. The following Monday I'm told it looks like it'll be Thursday 3 May. Wednesday, and a venue is fixed. A huge house in Highgate. "If you could arrive at the location by 5pm that would be great as we have to be out of there by 6.30pm. It is someone's home and they hire it out to film crews now and then."
I arrive at 5.10pm. This place is seriously imposing. Tiled floors, enormous ceilings and wall-to-wall sideboards. With sealed packets of chocolate mints on them. "You've come up in the world since your modest West London flat in the 1970s!" jokes Sophie, the director.
I sit down, and she begins to talk. As the filming lights come on, she gradually fades in the blur. Janine's guarding the door to the room, which swings open of its own accord. I feel for her, as she's dispatched to tell the home-owners to stop walking around their own house.
And then we get into it.
We start with Postman Pat, a show I've little interest in. I say a bit, the director then says, "Thank you." I say another bit. "Thank you. Now I just want you to say ..." and she tells me what to say. Phew, the cynical '80s, eh? The '70s weren't quite like this.
But we warm up, and while always rather stilted, we get into something that feels a bit more like a conversation. "I want you to say that American shows had a negative impact on British children's programmes in the 1980s". "Well, I don't really think they did," I reply, taking a stand mere minutes after disgracefully parroting back some guff she's fed to me about a Pigeon Street episode I'd never seen (they open a vegetarian café, apparently). But, here, I'm salving some small sense of dignity. I'm not just going to say anything. Although I do then concede that perhaps buying in episodes of He-Man dissuaded British broadcasters from commissioning their own fare. I'm guessing that bit won't make the cut, but my musings on Pigeon Street's eatery probably will.
Things are getting sticky, though. There's a helicopter buzzing overhead, the family's dog is barking, and worst of all, they've got the temerity to use their own creaking back door. "Surely there must be another way round they can use?" says the director. "Janine, can you ask them?". "Well," says Janine, "it's after 6.30pm already. That's probably their guests arriving. I don't think I can". I agree, but I don't say anything. Who am I in this? "In fact," says our slightly bristling researcher, "you really need to push through these".
"Make your answers shorter," I'm told. And then we get into talking about Grange Hill. I retread my Gripper comments from the '70s shoot. We talk about Press Gang and I attempt - from memory - to quote Paul Cornell's praise for it in the Guinness book. "Thank you". Then, with everyone getting itchy, we talk about kids appearing as themselves on telly. I say some stuff the director really seems to like, and she wants me to expand. Meanwhile, I can feel the whole room is now of a-twitch.
Then it's over. It's 6.55pm. My cab's been waiting since 6.25pm and now he's threatening to go. Janine gets me to sign the release forms, and then - Jim Bowen-style - counts out cold, hard cash into my hand, before we race to catch the cab. But the front door's locked and we can't get out.
That's how I ended up ruining your show again, everyone. Sorry.
29 May 2007
WHO WAS THAT FAT-NECKED, BALDING, SMUG TWAT?
Yes, indeed, who was that fat-necked, balding, smug twat on BBC4's Children's TV on Trial - 1970s flapping his arms around like a nutter? Yes, okay, it was me. And I did it for the money.
That's not to say I didn't enjoy being asked for my opinion on something, who doesn't? But I wouldn't have done it if there wasn't cash involved. This is what renovating a flat in North London does to you.
If memory serves, it was the show's researcher, Janine, who got in touch. She'd mailed me following up on my connection with TV Cream. Thinking about it now, I'm not quite sure how she got my address ... I guess it doesn't take much.
After a long chat about children's programmes in the 1980s ("What was The Adventure Game?"), my details were then passed on to the producer of the 1970s episode - Paul Dwyer. He called me the following week and quizzed me on production personnel from the decade. I flummoxed, but he seemed happy and asked if I'd be willing to go on the programme. For quids.
It's Tuesday, 17 April. I've told the team they can't film in my flat (see above about renovating), so they end up using Janine's modest but nice place in West London. I'm taxi'd there, and arrive to see a bean bag and a plate of homemade chocolate crispy cakes laid on. This is the 1970s. It turns out I'm a lot taller than Janine, and so the beanbag is dispatched and I sit on the floor - my head now safely in shot.
I start chatting to Paul, and it's all very amiable. We slip into filming, and continue in the same form. The whole thing feels pretty natural, apart from the odd prompt. "01?" he says, "811 8055" I chirp back, already seeing myself squidged into a montage of other inglorious types doing the same (which doesn't actually happen in the finished show). "Could you sing the theme tune to that?". "No".
We go round the houses, and the crew seem to laugh at some of the things I'm saying. That's dangerous, because it's getting a little heady. I'm steadily becoming Rob Deering. I take a sip of water and spill some down my front. Joe Public won't clock it. I talk at length about Gripper Stebson, trampling on topics that should be covered in the '80s edition. I say the same things again in exactly the same way when the neighbours above make a noise. I make poor cracks about Roger Price. I don't, however, badmouth crap CSO. I don't ask what anyone was on when they made their shows.
The results, as you will have seen, were heavily edited. In fact, happily I wasn't in it all that much, only really covering for the times the production team couldn't get anyone interesting to talk about a certain show. But, hands up, even on the day, I was a fat-necked, balding, smug twat. For money.
Tomorrow, I'll tell you about the 1980s, because I'm in that too. In the meantime, I'm sorry for ruining your show.
That's not to say I didn't enjoy being asked for my opinion on something, who doesn't? But I wouldn't have done it if there wasn't cash involved. This is what renovating a flat in North London does to you.
If memory serves, it was the show's researcher, Janine, who got in touch. She'd mailed me following up on my connection with TV Cream. Thinking about it now, I'm not quite sure how she got my address ... I guess it doesn't take much.
After a long chat about children's programmes in the 1980s ("What was The Adventure Game?"), my details were then passed on to the producer of the 1970s episode - Paul Dwyer. He called me the following week and quizzed me on production personnel from the decade. I flummoxed, but he seemed happy and asked if I'd be willing to go on the programme. For quids.
It's Tuesday, 17 April. I've told the team they can't film in my flat (see above about renovating), so they end up using Janine's modest but nice place in West London. I'm taxi'd there, and arrive to see a bean bag and a plate of homemade chocolate crispy cakes laid on. This is the 1970s. It turns out I'm a lot taller than Janine, and so the beanbag is dispatched and I sit on the floor - my head now safely in shot.
I start chatting to Paul, and it's all very amiable. We slip into filming, and continue in the same form. The whole thing feels pretty natural, apart from the odd prompt. "01?" he says, "811 8055" I chirp back, already seeing myself squidged into a montage of other inglorious types doing the same (which doesn't actually happen in the finished show). "Could you sing the theme tune to that?". "No".
We go round the houses, and the crew seem to laugh at some of the things I'm saying. That's dangerous, because it's getting a little heady. I'm steadily becoming Rob Deering. I take a sip of water and spill some down my front. Joe Public won't clock it. I talk at length about Gripper Stebson, trampling on topics that should be covered in the '80s edition. I say the same things again in exactly the same way when the neighbours above make a noise. I make poor cracks about Roger Price. I don't, however, badmouth crap CSO. I don't ask what anyone was on when they made their shows.
The results, as you will have seen, were heavily edited. In fact, happily I wasn't in it all that much, only really covering for the times the production team couldn't get anyone interesting to talk about a certain show. But, hands up, even on the day, I was a fat-necked, balding, smug twat. For money.
Tomorrow, I'll tell you about the 1980s, because I'm in that too. In the meantime, I'm sorry for ruining your show.
DROPPED CLANGERS
Apparently, tonight's edition of Children's TV on Trial, which covers the '70s, will include a clip from the rare Clangers episode "Vote for Froglet".
Partly for contractual reasons, and partly because Oliver Postgate considers it below par, the one-off special hasn't been seen since it was first aired in 1974. It's being used in the documentary to illustrate a section on the increasing politicisation of children's television during that decade, but although it will be nice to see some footage, it would be even better if BBC4 could see fit to give the entire show a long-overdue repeat.
Partly for contractual reasons, and partly because Oliver Postgate considers it below par, the one-off special hasn't been seen since it was first aired in 1974. It's being used in the documentary to illustrate a section on the increasing politicisation of children's television during that decade, but although it will be nice to see some footage, it would be even better if BBC4 could see fit to give the entire show a long-overdue repeat.
25 May 2007
"JOHN GORMAN, YOU'RE STILL ALIVE!"
This morning I've been on the phone to Lenny Henry, who's promoting his new show, Lenny's Britain, which comes to BBC1 on Thursday 14 June. Obviously, I took a moment to talk about ITV1's upcoming (and now rather delayed) Tiswas Reunited. Here's what he had to say ...
Did you take part in Tiswas Reunited?
I was in Tiswas Reunited.
How was that?
It was an enjoyable experience, although I couldn't help feeling that - you know - I was watching that guy do that stuff with the David Bellamy beard falling off and we just seemed to laugh all the time. And I was watching it thinking, "What the fuck were we laughing at? What were we laughing at?!" We just pissed ourselves continually! It was brilliant. It was a really good night. The easiest day in the studio I've ever had. So much fun.
Did you fall back into the old roles?
Well what was amazing about it - I think I wrote about this in my blog on lennyhenry.com I knew it was going to be a good day at the photo session for the Radio Times, about two weeks before. And it was me John Gorman, Bob Carolgees, Sally James and Chris Tarrant. From the second I walked in and said, "John Gorman you're still alive, this is amazing!" ... Bob Carolgees, who still has 5000 Spit the Dogs hidden in his garage, even though he says he sold the last one on eBay to some bloke. Sally James, who still looks remarkable for her age, still wearing very tight-fitting clothing. And finally Chris Tarrant - a bundle of energy in the middle of it all. There were sparks flying off people, and it was incredibly electric the whole day. And the photo session was really good fun, and I just thought, "If this is what the day's going to be like in the studio, we're going to have a hoot". It was really good fun.
Will we get one final "OK" from Algernon?
Well, you get ... I mean Chris really didn't want us to do very much because it's a clip show, we're sort of looking back on things and saying, "God, Paul McCartney sang The Bucket of Water Song! Phil Collins was in Compost Corner pretending to be a flower! Annie Lennox got flanned by the Phantom Flan Flinger!" It was a remarkable show. Status Quo got flanned! It was phenomenal. So there are lots of clips. But we do do some stuff in the studio, and there's a rendition of The Bucket of Water Song that has to be seen to be believed. And there's the cage ... It's really good fun.
Did you take part in Tiswas Reunited?
I was in Tiswas Reunited.
How was that?
It was an enjoyable experience, although I couldn't help feeling that - you know - I was watching that guy do that stuff with the David Bellamy beard falling off and we just seemed to laugh all the time. And I was watching it thinking, "What the fuck were we laughing at? What were we laughing at?!" We just pissed ourselves continually! It was brilliant. It was a really good night. The easiest day in the studio I've ever had. So much fun.
Did you fall back into the old roles?
Well what was amazing about it - I think I wrote about this in my blog on lennyhenry.com I knew it was going to be a good day at the photo session for the Radio Times, about two weeks before. And it was me John Gorman, Bob Carolgees, Sally James and Chris Tarrant. From the second I walked in and said, "John Gorman you're still alive, this is amazing!" ... Bob Carolgees, who still has 5000 Spit the Dogs hidden in his garage, even though he says he sold the last one on eBay to some bloke. Sally James, who still looks remarkable for her age, still wearing very tight-fitting clothing. And finally Chris Tarrant - a bundle of energy in the middle of it all. There were sparks flying off people, and it was incredibly electric the whole day. And the photo session was really good fun, and I just thought, "If this is what the day's going to be like in the studio, we're going to have a hoot". It was really good fun.
Will we get one final "OK" from Algernon?
Well, you get ... I mean Chris really didn't want us to do very much because it's a clip show, we're sort of looking back on things and saying, "God, Paul McCartney sang The Bucket of Water Song! Phil Collins was in Compost Corner pretending to be a flower! Annie Lennox got flanned by the Phantom Flan Flinger!" It was a remarkable show. Status Quo got flanned! It was phenomenal. So there are lots of clips. But we do do some stuff in the studio, and there's a rendition of The Bucket of Water Song that has to be seen to be believed. And there's the cage ... It's really good fun.
24 May 2007
KUDOS TO KUDOS
Looks like Kudos are about to come up with the goods once again. After the success of Spooks and Hustle, comes new show Outcasts, as the following BBC Press Release reveals...
– Stephen Hawking
BBC Drama today announces that Outcasts – a brand new high concept series from Kudos Film and Television and Ben Richards (Spooks, Party Animals) – is in development by BBC Wales for BBC One.
Set in space with the future of earth looking increasingly precarious, the race is on in Outcasts to find an alternative home in the universe.
In return for their "liberty", a group of social misfits and criminals are sent to be the pioneers of a large new settlement on a near planet.
They contain a variety of different types – from the brilliant deviant to the petty thief. They are the "outcasts", fascinating but ultimately dispensable who must build the conditions for a new life.
Outcasts is a tense and fast-paced series about co-operation and conflict, idealism and power, sexual competition and love. Most of all it is about our life's big imperatives – cheating death, seeking suitable mates and surviving as a species.
Jane Tranter, Controller, BBC Fiction, says: "Following the unique success of time travel in Life On Mars, I'm naturally extremely excited about the dynamic duo of Kudos and Ben Richards joining forces to create a further dimension in BBC Drama."
Jane Featherstone, Joint MD, Kudos Film and Television, says: "The colonisation of space by humans is only a matter of time, and we think that Ben Richards' brilliant vision of what life will be like when that happens will offer audiences a dramatic, original and entertaining new drama arena."
– Stephen Hawking
BBC Drama today announces that Outcasts – a brand new high concept series from Kudos Film and Television and Ben Richards (Spooks, Party Animals) – is in development by BBC Wales for BBC One.
Set in space with the future of earth looking increasingly precarious, the race is on in Outcasts to find an alternative home in the universe.
In return for their "liberty", a group of social misfits and criminals are sent to be the pioneers of a large new settlement on a near planet.
They contain a variety of different types – from the brilliant deviant to the petty thief. They are the "outcasts", fascinating but ultimately dispensable who must build the conditions for a new life.
Outcasts is a tense and fast-paced series about co-operation and conflict, idealism and power, sexual competition and love. Most of all it is about our life's big imperatives – cheating death, seeking suitable mates and surviving as a species.
Jane Tranter, Controller, BBC Fiction, says: "Following the unique success of time travel in Life On Mars, I'm naturally extremely excited about the dynamic duo of Kudos and Ben Richards joining forces to create a further dimension in BBC Drama."
Jane Featherstone, Joint MD, Kudos Film and Television, says: "The colonisation of space by humans is only a matter of time, and we think that Ben Richards' brilliant vision of what life will be like when that happens will offer audiences a dramatic, original and entertaining new drama arena."
"POP IMPRESARIO AND X FACTOR JUDGE ..."
"... Simon Cowell, this is your life!"
Yep, it's just been confirmed that when Sir Trevor McDonald checks out the big rouge book from the TV library - after a four-year stint spent languishing on the shelves - the "Lifer" in question is to be Simon Cowell. Not to be mean spirited, but that seems a bit of a comedown for the show's return, doesn't it? They must only have had to pop down the corridor at LWT Towers to get him.
Anyway, the results can be seen on ITV1 on Saturday June 2.
Yep, it's just been confirmed that when Sir Trevor McDonald checks out the big rouge book from the TV library - after a four-year stint spent languishing on the shelves - the "Lifer" in question is to be Simon Cowell. Not to be mean spirited, but that seems a bit of a comedown for the show's return, doesn't it? They must only have had to pop down the corridor at LWT Towers to get him.
Anyway, the results can be seen on ITV1 on Saturday June 2.
CAN I HAVE A BID, PLEASE BOB?
Some television history is on sale at ebay. A selection of the sculptures that appeared on the set and in the title buffers of the '80s quiz show Blockbusters have surfaced. Hamlet, Nelson Mandela, Bob Marley, Mother Theresa and Pope John Paul II were saved by the seller during the closure of the Lenton Lane ITV studios where they'd been adorning the cafe for many years.
Despite being made of polystyrene they're pretty heavy - the Pope and Hamlet are four stones each so you can understand why they're pick up only. In West Wales. Luckily for anyone planning a trip but doubting their provinance there are pictures of some of them in situ. My only question is were the seller is storing them. They're pretty big, the height of a person.
Despite being made of polystyrene they're pretty heavy - the Pope and Hamlet are four stones each so you can understand why they're pick up only. In West Wales. Luckily for anyone planning a trip but doubting their provinance there are pictures of some of them in situ. My only question is were the seller is storing them. They're pretty big, the height of a person.
23 May 2007
DEALING AT 500
It's been a while since I watched, I'll admit, but this press release still gave me a warm glow ...
Half a million pounds … 22 identical sealed boxes … and no questions
Except one …. Deal or No Deal
500th episode airing on Channel 4 in June 2007
The cult TV phenomenon Deal or No Deal will be celebrating its 500th show on 29 June 2007. Presenter Noel Edmonds has some surprises in store to commemorate the milestone episode.
The fortunate contestant taking the "walk of wealth" on the special programme will be playing for the biggest jackpot ever - the top prize available is £500,000!
Noel and the enigmatic Banker welcome an entire studio audience of past players to cheer on the contestant for the 500th show. All the show's much loved characters are back, including 24 year old Welsh lass Laura Pearce who is the only person lucky enough to win the jackpot of £250,000. Other favourites include 1p club founder Nick Bairn and Deal or No Deal's longest serving contestant Lucy Harrington who went on to win just £5. Courageous players such the show's very own poet laureate Morris Simpson and "Bunney", who challenged the banker and walked away with £110, 000 will also return to the studio to cheer on the player for the 500th show.
The Banker commented: "I remember each and every one of the 500 verminous individuals who have dared to crawl before me. I remember fondly the shattered lives and broken dreams. I love it when they weep, you know. There's nothing like a hollow sob. Such good times.
"Then of course ... there's some I'd rather forget. And one in particular ...... she who shall not be named. Oh, the absolute horror of it. Confetti makes me ill now. I'll never, ever be able to attend another wedding. And I used to go to plenty because the food's free.
"Er ... anyway ... happy birthday to me. I am expecting gifts from viewers. Expensive gifts. Or maybe ... photographs ... I'll leave it with you."
Deal or No Deal's white-knuckle success has secured over 60 deals worldwide, bringing it into over 100 territories.
16 May 2007
SAME BUT DIFFERENT
Is the BBC working against itself or has The Restaurant been renamed? I've just spotted this advert on Gumtree, the online classified ad service:
"If anyone is looking for the chance to own their own restaurant for a day and show off their signature dish then this could be the opportunity. BBC1 is filming a new series this summer called Making A Meal Of It. They are looking for 10 pairs of amateur cooks to have a go at running a restaurant as head chef and front-of-house manager. The BBC will provide the restaurant, the staff and the diners. This is ideal for anyone who has dreamt of running there own restaurant, but has never had the time or money to do so. The restaurant will be yours to cook whatever you want, whether it be a ultra-modern sushi bar or a cheery organic café, nothing could be too wild."The formats seem incredibly similar, don't they? There are a couple of differences. The suggestion here is that the restaurant will be a closed environment, they'll only have it for a day and that the contestants won't be actually running a business -- which is the point of The Restaurant. Any thoughts?
"But it will be important to impress as the diners will be judging the value of each meal on taste, presentation, service and overall dining experience. Each restaurateur will be up against 4 other contestants and the couple that turns over the highest profit wins the total earnings. This could be a life changing opportunity and you could find out if you really have what it takes to run a restaurant. If you think this is the opportunity and challenge you are up to, then email the team at makingamealofit@bbc.co.uk"
I DON'T BELIEVE IT!
High Stakes, along with Believe Nothing and Hardware, was part of ITV's attempt at re-establishing their Sunday night "edgy comedy" slot a couple of years back. Starring Richard Wilson and written by Tony Sarchet (This Is David Lander), this highbrow sitcom set in the financial world was not quite in the same league as its more celebrated eighties counterparts, and suffered from some unrealistic and overblown pre-transmission publicity, but it was a likeable enough effort and it came as some surprise when the muted response to the first run led to the already-recorded second being shelved and eventually never transmitted.
Now, surprisingly enough, both series have been released on DVD. While there's hardly likely to be queues of devoted fans filling up their nearest high street DVD shop, this does bode well for other series that were haphazardly scheduled or just not transmitted at all. Any chance of a Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married box set?
Now, surprisingly enough, both series have been released on DVD. While there's hardly likely to be queues of devoted fans filling up their nearest high street DVD shop, this does bode well for other series that were haphazardly scheduled or just not transmitted at all. Any chance of a Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married box set?
15 May 2007
"WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?"
Those who are still freaked out whenever they see Alan Dale (Jim Robinson from Neighbours) appearing in the likes of 24, The OC and Ugly Betty won't love this survey from Rob Buckley of upcoming US genre series, since it includes preview clips from the remake of The Bionic Woman featuring Michelle Ryan (best known over 'ere as Zoe Slater in EastEnders) playing Jamie Sommers.
There's something distinctly unnerving about hearing her new American accent, but that's as nothing compared to seeing her in the same scene as Katie Sackoff (new Starbuck in new Battlestar Galactica).
There's something distinctly unnerving about hearing her new American accent, but that's as nothing compared to seeing her in the same scene as Katie Sackoff (new Starbuck in new Battlestar Galactica).
14 May 2007
TONIGHT'S PANORAMA
If anybody wants to see a BBC journalist losing it big time with a member of the Church of Scientology, then it will be well worth your while watching Panorama tonight. I've seen the clip and it is, well, a little startling really.
04 May 2007
GIVE THEM SOME CREDIT
A quick one: the BBC is apparently adopting a new set of rules regarding end credits on programmes. The guidelines explain everything nice and clearly for production personnel, but I have to say that as somebody who enjoys reading the credits from time to time, this idea looks as though it is just going to result in even more screen clutter. I find the "Coming Next" taglines on BBC annoying enough as it is!
Wonder how long it will take for somebody to write to Points of View over this one?
Wonder how long it will take for somebody to write to Points of View over this one?
YAWNENDERS
Does anybody still watch EastEnders these days? The BBC appears to be going through one of its periodic advertising campaigns for the show at the moment, with all manner of trailers on both the telly and radio. Some of these ads feature characters who are among the least interesting to have appeared in the show in its entire history. Is anybody bothered about the antics of that Rob character, whose affair with Dawn has dragged on and on? Is the Dot-steals-a-baby storyline remotely convincing? Whatever happened to all of the good characters that captured the imagination and interest of the audience? Mickey, Li, Carly and May are hardly the most engaging personalities and it doesn't seem as if they are particularly cared about.
The new boss of EastEnders, Dierdrick Santer, was yet another executive brought in to try to revive the fortunes of the show, but on the evidence of recent weeks things just appear to be meandering along the same path it's been going on for the past few years or so. What is needed is a couple of new major families to shake things up and put some interest back into the flagging Walford community. Phil Daniels, Jake Wood and Linda Henry are all really good actors, but their characters are not particularly sympathetic, their storylines fairly dull and they cannot carry the show on their own.
There have been rumours of June Brown wanting to quit the show again, and from the state of the programme lately it would be quite understandable if she did. Coronation Street and Emmerdale are still light years ahead of EastEnders in terms of characterisation, plotting and humour and it is hard to see how the BBC are going to ever catch up.
The new boss of EastEnders, Dierdrick Santer, was yet another executive brought in to try to revive the fortunes of the show, but on the evidence of recent weeks things just appear to be meandering along the same path it's been going on for the past few years or so. What is needed is a couple of new major families to shake things up and put some interest back into the flagging Walford community. Phil Daniels, Jake Wood and Linda Henry are all really good actors, but their characters are not particularly sympathetic, their storylines fairly dull and they cannot carry the show on their own.
There have been rumours of June Brown wanting to quit the show again, and from the state of the programme lately it would be quite understandable if she did. Coronation Street and Emmerdale are still light years ahead of EastEnders in terms of characterisation, plotting and humour and it is hard to see how the BBC are going to ever catch up.
02 May 2007
WHO-ROVISION CASUALTY!
This'll get 'em up in arms, a dispatch just now from the Doctor Who press office.
Episode 7 of Doctor Who postponed until 19th May
Due to the Eurovision Song Contest, there will be no episode of Doctor Who on Saturday 12th May. Episode 7, entitled 42, will now be shown on Saturday 19th May (Time TBC.)
Viewers will have to wait an extra week to see Michelle Collins make her Doctor Who debut as McConnell, the strong willed Captain of a doomed spaceship. Episode 7 sees The Doctor and Martha trapped on board a spaceship in a distant galaxy. The ship is hurtling out of control towards a boiling sun and they have only 42 minutes to uncover the saboteurs, but with a mysterious force starting to possess the ship’s crew, the Doctor is running out of time!